MArco Outrage!

Unhappy viewers

The competition on Greater Manchester's Key 103 was named Heartless Hotline and ran from April 18 - 29.

It arranged for listeners to call in to claim a prize - then opened up phone lines for others to ring and "steal" the prize money for themselves.

A clearly desperate Sarah called in on April 27 while the show was being hosted by Mike Toolan and Coronation Street star Brooke Vincent.

She told the presenters: "It was just over two years ago and I discovered my husband was cheating on me with somebody he worked with.

"A couple of weeks after that literally, my dad died unexpectedly.

"It has been an awful – I can’t tell you what it’s been like the last two years [voice breaks]…sorry I’m a bit upset.

Brooke Vincent Twitter

The radio segment saw listeners call in to try and "steal" other listeners' prize money

"I don’t have any luxuries.

"I have enough to cover the bills but really if I could get divorced I could also get a court order that would mean that my children’s father would have to help with the housing costs ‘cos I just don’t think, of moving house right now, they could cope with it.

"It’s just been heart-breaking."

The presenters then expressed sympathy, before opening up the phone lines for others to "steal" the money.

A woman named Leigh then called, explaining she had children as well, but would "like a holiday".

Ofcom

The caller named Sarah asked for the money to help with her divorce and a court order

The dialogue continued with Sarah pleading: "I want to keep a roof over my children’s heads and you just want a holiday?

"Are you serious?"

Leigh: "I am serious.

"I’m sorry about this, but yes."

Sarah: "You’re not sorry.

"How could you?"

Leigh responded: "Well that’s the name of the game!"

Ofcom

The presenters then reveal another caller has already rung in attempting to steal the prize

The presenters then accepted she had won the prize money, but other listeners called in.

They branded Leigh "a vindictive, disgusting woman", while others said the station needed to put an end to the "evil" competition.

Today Ofcom ruled the incident had breached the "human dignity" clause of its broadcasting guidelines.

"When conducting two phone-in competitions, we found this Manchester-based radio station broke our rules on offensive material and to ensure competitions are conducted fairly.